PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The West Java Province Cooperatives and Small Business Office (Diskuk) together with the West Java Regional Indonesian Cooperative Council (Dekopinwil) held the Saba Sakola program as an effort to instill an understanding of cooperatives in the younger generation.

This activity took place at SMA PGRI 1 Bandung, Monday (20/7/2026), and was attended by students and educators.

Saba Sakola is part of a series of activities commemorating the 79th Cooperatives Day. It is an educational program designed to introduce students to the values, principles, and benefits of cooperatives from an early age. This activity also provides participants with an understanding of the importance of distinguishing cooperatives managed according to cooperative principles from business practices that misuse the cooperative name.

The supervisor of the West Java Diskuk Young Expert Cooperative, Saeful Gozali, SE, said that cooperative literacy needs to be provided to the younger generation so that they do not easily fall into practices that are detrimental to society.

"We're seeing a lot of non-cooperative practices masquerading as cooperatives. You might be familiar with the term loan sharks. There are loan sharks masquerading as cooperatives," he said.

He explained that through the material presented by the resource person, students are expected to be able to understand the concept of cooperatives as a whole, including the benefits and principles that form the basis of the cooperative movement.

"Later, Mrs. Yuli from the Kebal Cooperative will provide literacy on the benefits of cooperatives and how to properly understand them. Don't let your students get caught up in improper cooperative practices," he added.

The principal of SMA PGRI 1 Bandung, Drs. Muslim Triaji, M.Pd., also expressed his support for this program, which coincided with the 79th Cooperative Day commemoration.

"Happy 79th Cooperatives Day. Saba Sakola, who are here, we fully support cooperative programs, especially those aimed at providing understanding and knowledge about cooperatives. May Indonesian cooperatives always prosper," he said.

The educational material for this activity was delivered by Yuli Mariani, SE, KSP Kebal Learning Center Trainer. In her presentation, she reviewed the basic principles of cooperatives, the benefits of cooperatives, and the importance of improving financial literacy so that the public, especially the younger generation, can recognize and avoid practices that use the cooperative name but do not comply with statutory provisions.

(West Java Communications and Information Service/Agustin Purnawan)